Hair curling rod



Dec. 10, 1963 c. KROWLEY HAIR CURLING ROD Filed March 15, 1961 INVENTOR, CAss KROWLEY ATTOPNEYJS United States Patent Ofi 3,ll3,5?3 Patented Dec. 1%, 1963 ice 3,113,578 HAIR QURLING RG2) Cass Krowley, 17155 Bradford, Detroit 5, Mich. Filed Mar. 15, 1951, Ser. No. 5,937 3 Ciairns. (Ci. 132 3i)) This invention relates to the art of curling hair in which the hair is first dampened with a softening or wave lotion and wrapped in locks around curling rods, is rinsed, blotted, and subjected to a setting fluid while on the rods, and is subsequently removed from the rods, Washed, and set. More particularly, the invention involves a curling rod and method of its use.

A conventional curling rod has the general form of a double cone with large diameter ends, a small diameter central portion, and tapering intermediate portions. In use the ends of a lock of hair distal of the scalp are first wrapped around the small diameter center of the rod and the rod is turned to wind the rest of the lock around the central portion in overlying spiral coils until the large ends of the rod engage the scalp and prevent further winding. The hair is retained on the curling rods by such means as rubber bands, retainer pins, or the like.

The conventional curling rod and method of use are subject to several disadvantages. In the first place each hair rather than being a single, solid strand has a compound structure generally analagous to shingling; and when the free or distal ends of the hair are wound on a small radius around the center of the curling rod, individual elements or shingles in the hair break loose and stick out. This causes the objectionable frizzing which frequently results in the process of curling hair. Secondly, the portion of the hair adjacent the scalp, which is usually the hardest to curl, is wound on a relatively large diameter since it is at the outside of the hair spiral and the curling effect on this portion of the hair is inadequate.

Third, since the hair is wrapped in overlying coils, it presents a relatively dense mass difficult of penetration by the setting fluid. This results in loss of time in saturating the hair and also requires the use of a ported, hollow curling rod so that setting fluid can be introduced to the hair mass from within the coil as well as externally. Fourth, when the relatively large ends of the curling rod engage the scalp, there is a length of hair extending from the scalp toward the curling rod which is straight rather than curled. This decreases the life of a permanent.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive curling rod structure and method of its use improved so that frizzing of the hair ends is minimized, curling of the hair adjacent the scalp is improved, the hair is curled all the way to the scalp for increased permanent life, and the step of saturating the hair with setting fluid is accelerated.

Generally the invention contemplates a curling rod contoured so that it has a. large diameter portion and an adjacent portion which tapers to and blends with a smaller diameter generally cylindrical shank which terminates at one end of the rod. The distal end of the hair is Wrapped around the larger diameter portion to minimize frizzing and the rest of the hair is wound in a threaded direction around the tapering portion with the hair adjacent the scalp wound around the small diameter shank. The winding continues until the shank engages the scalp. The larger end of the rod is apertured, and a retaining pin is insertable through the aperture so that it can be passed above hair wound on the rod, swung downwardly, and inserted through the hair for retaining the wrapped hair on the rod. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a generally elevational view with parts broken away and shown in section illustrating a curling rod according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the large end of the rod separate from the retaining pin.

FIG. 3 is a partly diagrammatic view illustrating the rod about to be put to use.

FIG. 4 is a partly diagrammatic view illustrating a lock of hair wound on the rod and secured in place by the retaining pin.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged generally sectional view on line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the lock secured on the curling rod.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on line '77 of FIG. 1.

The curling rod 10 shown in the drawings comprises a single body of a suitable, form-retaining material, such as wood or a plastic material, having a large diameter end portion 12, a smaller diameter generally cylindrical shank portion 14 and an intermediate portion 16 which gradually tapers from the large end and blends into the cylindrical shank as represented generally at 18. Cylindrical shank portion 14 has a length which is approximately half of the length of the rod between the large end and the small end 20 at which the cylindrical shank terminates.

Rod 10 has a plurality of longitudinally extending open ings 22 spaced radially outward of the longitudinal axis of the rod. These openings extend from the large end face 24 of the rod to intermediate tapered portion 16 thereof. Each of these openings is provided with an outwardly angled wall 26 so that a retaining rod or pin 28 can be inserted through the large end of the rod at an angle to the rod axis as shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 and then swung downwardly over smaller diameter portions of the rod as shown in broken lines. Retaining pin 28 is illustrated as having a small knob 30 at one end forming a finger hold or handle. In some cases, rod 15) may be provided with a longitudinal central passageway 32 communicating with the rod exterior through radial ports 34.

In use the ends of a lock of hair L distal of the scalp S are folded between a conventional leader or end paper P and this paper together with the included end is wrapped around the large diameter portion 12 of rod 10, preferably leaving portions of openings 22 exposed. The rod is then oriented and manually turned in such a way that hair lock L is wrapped helically in a threading direction around tapered portion 16 of the rod and ultimately around cylindrical shank 14. This wrapping continues until the shank engages scalp S.

Then retaining pin 28 is inserted at an angle through an opening 22 adjacent the scalp. Next the retaining pin is swung downwardly generally as illustrated in broken lines in FIG. I, inserted through a portion of the hair immediately adjacent its attachment to the scalp as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. This secures the rod against turning and thereby retains the hair in tightly Wound condition around the rod.

The free end portions of the hair, which are most subject to frizzing, are wound about the lager diameter end of curling rod 10 so that the curvature of the curl is relatively mild and the tendency of the hair to friz is minimized. The portions of the hair which are hardest to curl, that is, the portions nearer to the scalp, are wound on sharper radii of curvature about relatively small diameter shank 14 so that the curling action of the rod at this portion of the hair is effectively increased. In the winding process the shank is engaged against the scalp so that the portions of hair immediately adjacent the scalp are curled as well as portions further away from the scalp, and the length of life of the permanent is materially increased.

The hair is wound in a threaded direction on the rod rather than in overlying spiral coils so that the mass of hair at any one location on the rod is relatively thin. The mass of hair is thus relatively easily penetrable by setting fluid so that the setting fluid can be applied rapidly and simply from the exterior of the rod. In the large majority of cases, it is unnecessary to also apply setting fluid from the rod interior; however, the rod may be provided with a passageway 32 and ports 34- for this purpose, if desired, to take care of extraordinary circumstances.

To remove the hair from the rod, the rod is simply grasped and retaining pin 23 is withdrawn from the hair and from opening 22, and the rod is then simply pulled axially out of the curled lock. It is not necessary to unwind the lock to remove the rod. The lock remains generally undisturbed. This simplifies and quickens the haircurling procedure.

I claim:

1. Curling rod structure comprising, a curling rod having one end portion of a relatively large diameter, another end portion of relatively smaller diameter, and an intermediate portion which tapers from said large diameter to said smaller diameter, said rod having a longitudinally extending hole therein, said hole having one end adjacent said one end of said rod and having another end at the tapering portion of said rod, said other end of said hole being disposed radially outwardly of said smaller diameter, a retainer pin passing slidably through said hole, said hole having radially outward inwardly facing wall portions which retain said pin against egress from said hole in a radial direction, said hole having a generally radial dimension and length which are 50 related to the cross dimension of said pin that said pin can be passed through said hole at an angle to the longitudinal extent of said rod adequate to clear hair wound thereon enerally adjacent said one end thereof and swung to positions generally parallel to the longitudinal extent of said rod over the hair thereon, said pin having a length such that when it is inserted through said hole, it spans said tapering portion of said rod with one end of said pin projecting out of said one end of said hole to facilitate angular manipulation of said pin and the other end of said pin projecting over said smaller diameter portion of said rod for insertion through and retention of hair wound thereon, said rod and pin being free of obstructions to substantially free swinging of said pin between said angle and said parallel positions thereof.

2. The curling rod structure defined in claim 1 wherein said curling rod has a substantially cylindrical portion adjacent said other end thereof and having said smaller diameter, said tapering portion blending into said cylindrical portion.

3. The curling rod structure defined in claim 2 wherein said cylindrical portion extends from about the longitudinal mid portion of said rod to said other end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 13,442 Davis July 16, 1912 1,403,512 Mariner Jan. 17, 1922 1,882,508 La Gasse Oct. 11, 1932 2,288,446 Gemerchak June 30, 1942 3,064,659 Solomon Mar. 20, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 556,183 Germany Aug. 3, 1932 608,724 Great Britain Sept. 20, 1948 858,009 Germany Dec. 10, 1952 

1. CURLING ROD STRUCTURE COMPRISING, A CURLING ROD HAVING ONE END PORTION OF A RELATIVELY LARGE DIAMETER, ANOTHER END PORTION OF RELATIVELY SMALLER DIAMETER, AND AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION WHICH TAPERS FROM SAID LARGE DIAMETER TO SAID SMALLER DIAMETER, SAID ROD HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING HOLE THEREIN, SAID HOLE HAVING ONE END ADJACENT SAID ONE END OF SAID ROD AND HAVING ANOTHER END AT THE TAPERING PORTION OF SAID ROD, SAID OTHER END OF SAID HOLE BEING DISPOSED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID SMALLER DIAMETER, A RETAINER PIN PASSING SLIDABLY THROUGH SAID HOLE, SAID HOLE HAVING RADIALLY OUTWARD INWARDLY FACING WALL PORTIONS WHICH RETAIN SAID PIN AGAINST EGRESS FROM SAID HOLE IN A RADIAL DIRECTION, SAID HOLE HAVING A GENERALLY RADIAL DIMENSION AND LENGTH WHICH ARE SO RELATED TO THE CROSS DIMENSION OF SAID PIN THAT SAID PIN CAN BE PASSED THROUGH SAID HOLE AT AN ANGLE TO THE LONGITUDINAL EXTENT OF SAID ROD ADEQUATE TO CLEAR HAIR WOUND THEREON GENERALLY ADJACENT SAID ONE END THEREOF AND SWUNG TO POSITIONS GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL EXTENT OF SAID ROD OVER THE HAIR THEREON, SAID PIN HAVING A LENGTH SUCH THAT WHEN IT IS INSERTED THROUGH SAID HOLE, IT SPANS SAID TAPERING PORTION OF SAID ROD WITH ONE END OF SAID PIN PROJECTING OUT OF SAID ONE END OF SAID HOLE TO FACILITATE ANGULAR MANIPULATION OF SAID PIN AND THE OTHER END OF SAID PIN PROJECTING OVER SAID SMALLER DIAMETER PORTION OF SAID ROD FOR INSERTION THROUGH AND RETENTION OF HAIR WOUND THEREON, SAID ROD AND PIN BEING FREE OF OBSTRUCTIONS TO SUBSTANTIALLY FREE SWINGING OF SAID PIN BETWEEN SAID ANGLE AND SAID PARALLEL POSITIONS THEREOF. 